State elections only in May 2009: CM

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy, said in New Delhi on Thursday that Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh would be held only in May 2009, after his government completed its term, even if the Lok Sabha elections were held in November.

However, he hastened to add that the Election Commission might use its discretion if the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections fell within a six-month period.

Dr Reddy’s comments came in the midst of speculations that the rift between the UPA government and the Left parties over the nuclear deal would necessitate Lok Sabha polls in November.

Intelligence sources also said that the UPA government’s intransigence on the nuclear deal and the Rs 70,000 crore farm loan waiver were indications of a November elections.

The Chief Minister, fresh from a good show in the bypolls, exuded confidence on his party’s performance in the coming elections.

He told mediapersons that the Congress was the “reigning champion” in the State and would win 36 Lok Sabha seats and 230 Assembly seats, whenever elections were held.

“Just as you will have reigning champion in football or tennis, the Congress is the reigning champion in politics,” he said.

He added that the party had won all the ‘preliminary rounds’ (meaning local bodies’ polls) and would repeat the victory in the finals too (the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls).

When asked whether the AICC general secretary, Mr Rahul Gandhi, will be the future leader of the party, he responded: “Why doubt about it?” The Chief Minister will visit Delhi next week again, as he could not call on the party president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Neither could he meet the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday.

In Nellore, the information and public relations minister, Mr Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, ruled out early Assembly polls.

The minister dismissed speculation that the government would go for Assembly elections in September to avoid giving time to Chiranjeevi to launch his party and run a campaign. “We would like to give him time,” said Mr Ramnarayana Reddy.

“This will only erode the vote bank of the Telugu Desam.” He said Chiranjeevi was likely to have some impact in urban areas besides East and West Godavari and Krishna districts.

‘I win because people love me’

He is described as “ajaathashatru (one who does not have rivals)” in state politics. Former chief minister Dharam Singh is in the news but this time for different reasons. The Congress candidate from Jewargi constituency wants to create a record of sorts by winning elections from the same constituency for the ninth time in a row. In an interview with this newspaper, he discussed what could happen in Jewargi and in the state as well.

Q: How are your poll preparations and what is your take on your victory?

A: Besides my friend and KPCC president, Mallikar jun Kharge, no leader has even won elections eight times in a row from the same constituency. Because of the delimitation, he had to change the constituency this time. I am contesting from Jewargi from where I have been winning since 1972. I will win this time too, no doubt.

Q: But, the BJP has been making allegations that you have not done anything for the constituency and you won the elections in the past by distributing money. Your comments.

A: (Visibly disturbed) They are desperate and therefore, they make such baseless allegations and you publish them ... It is the BJP which brought mine-owners to distribute money. I won elections because people loved me and this time too, it is the same factor that will work in my favour. In a way, this election will be the easiest. It will be a cakewalk.

Q: If you have achieved so much, can you tell me some of the major programmes.

A: Mudabala, Indi and Jewargi branch canals were sanctioned during my tenure. Development of Bidar-Srirangapatna state highway is a major achievement. Every grampanchayat got a high school, one IT college, five junior colleges and one degree college were sanctioned after I became the chief minister. Who got circuit benches to Gulbarga and Hubli? If this is not development, what else is development? Apart from this, I am there for a marriage or paying the fee of a child in my constituency.

Isliye woh log mohabbat kartien hain (That is why they love me).

Q: What is your poll prediction?

A: The Congress will get a comfortable majority. The BJP will not cross more than 80 and the Janata Dal(S) might get around 35.

Q: It looks like that BJP has an edge because of the Lingayat factor. Don’t you consider this?

A: The BJP will not do well in these 69 constituencies. The Lingayat factor has not worked here. Mr Yeddyurappa is not mature.

He is not chief minister material. You see how they ran the government for 20 months. Almost every day, the partners (JD-S and BJP) fought. You would remember that when I was the chief minister, things were different. We never fought in public.

Relations fine with EC, asserts YSR top of the page

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S.
Rajasekhar Reddy on Tuesday said that the state government was not at loggerheads with the Election Commission on the issue of election code vis-à-vis development works.

The Chief Minister said that the government would clarify on the notice served to it by the Election Commission on taking up developmental programmes and the agriculture minister, Mr N.

Raghuveera Reddy’s reported “derogatory remarks made against the Election Commission.” The Election Com mission had served notices to the state government and Mr Reddy for the violation of the model code of conduct set by the EC.

“We have high regard for the Election commission,” the Chief Minister said.

“There are no differences between the government and the EC on any matter,” he clarified.

Dr Reddy, however, defended the statement of the agriculture minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, seeking the continuation of regular programmes like the Rythu Chaitanya yatras.

“Mr Raghuveera Reddy said that Rythu Chaitanya yatras should not be stopped since it was the season to educate farmers.

Unlike a housing scheme or other works which can be put off, agriculture plans can’t be postponed.

There would have been no political gain,” the Chief Minister said.

“The Election Commission too agreed with his viewpoint and okayed the programme,” he added.

When reminded that the Opposition demanded the resignation of the agriculture minister, Dr Reddy said, “They have no issue.

They are just indulging in mudslinging.”

EC gears up for byelections

The Election Commission has decided to provide handson experience to voters on using the electronic voting machines for the ensuing bypolls.

The EC’s decision gains significance in the backdrop of the tech-savvy Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu opposing the use of the machines. “Besides airing short films on the use of the EVMs on television and theatres, we will also help voters have a real experience,” the chief electoral officer, Mr I.V. Subba Rao told mediapersons on Thursday.

Minister takes on EC over farm yatra ban

The agri culture minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, on Thursday termed as “absurd” the Election Commission’s reported decision not to allow rythu chaitanya yatras.

The yatras meant to create awareness among farmers were scheduled to be held from May 17 to 29 in 10 districts where bypolls are to be held.

Talking to mediapersons here, the minister said the EC decision to put the programme on hold smacked of a dictatorial attitude.

“They (the EC) are not looking at it from the farmers’ perspective,” he said. “The Congress, the state government and the EC have nothing to lose but 1.5 lakh farmers’ families will be put to inconvenience.” As part of the rythu chaitanya yatra, officials from agriculture and allied departments were supposed to visit farmers and guide them on modern agricultural practices.

Mr Raghuveera Reddy said the government had even told the EC that it would do away with the regular practice of having a people’s representative to inaugurate the programme.

He criticised the EC’s contention that the programme could be conducted after the polls and said that timely action was imperative in agriculture. “By June, farmers will take up agricultural operations and there will be no use in educating them,” he said. “The EC is depriving the farmers of their right to get guidance from scientists.” Mr Raghuveera Reddy wondered how dissemination of scientific tips would amount to luring of voters.

On the contrary, the EC permitted the government to give input subsidy to farmers. “Will this not amount to luring?” he asked. When asked whether it was right for a minister to criticise a constitutional body, Mr Raghuveera Reddy said he had the right to express the government’s displeasure.

“What will they do?” he said. “Will they put me in jail? I am ready to go there.” The minister said though the government did not receive any communication so far, media reports clearly indicated the EC’s approach. He appealed to the EC to reconsider its decision. The Chief Electoral Officer, Mr I.V. Subba Rao, refused to react to the minister’s criticism but said that EC was a constitutional body on the lines of the Assembly and Parliament and it had a mandate to implement rules and regulations. He made it clear that there was no intimation so far from the EC on rythu chaitanya yatras.

Vishnu, Nayani throw EC code to the winds

Mr P. Vishnuvardhan Reddy of the Congress and Mr Nayani Narasimha Reddy of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti on Wednesday threw the model code of conduct to the winds by taking out huge rallies for filing their nominations.

Traffic came to a standstill on Erragadda-Ameerpet-Punjagutta-Khairatabad-Lakdikapul-Nampally corridor for more than three hours because of the rally.

Though Election Commission has clearly said that the candidate should be accompanied by only four people while filing nominations, a large number of people barged into the Khairatabad and Musheerabad municipal offices where the candidates filed their nominations.

Mr Vishnuvardhan Reddy came with huge convoy to the Khairatabad municipal office and more than two dozen leaders including the Pradesh Congress Committee President, Mr D. Srinivas, the minister, Mr Vanama Venkateswara Rao, the MP, Mr Anjan Kumar Yadav, the MLA, Mr M. Shashidhar Reddy entered the returning officer’s room.

Musheerabad also witnessed a huge rally by TRS leader Nayani Narsimha Reddy causing traffic jams on the Musheerabad-Chikkadpally route.

However, the chief electoral officer, Mr I.V.

Subba Rao, said the report sent by Khairatabad Returning Officer said all the stipulated conditions were followed.

Gujarat Why is EC silent on Sonia remark:Naidu

Senior BJP leader N Venkaiah Naidu on Friday questioned the Election Commission for its notice to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his reported comments on Sohrabuddin Sheikh while maintaining silence over the statement made by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

"Why the EC has not issued any notice to Sonia Gandhi who charged that Modi was a merchant of death," Mr Naidu asked.

Speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport, Mr Naidu alleged that Ms Gandhi's allegation that Modi was a ‘merchant of death' was ‘serious, offensive, provocative and inciting'. "Why is the EC is silent on Sonia Gandhi? They should explain it," said Mr Naidu.

The BJP leader alleged that Congress and ‘pseudo-secularists' were raking up the name of Sohrabuddin with ulterior motives.

"What is so great about Sohrabuddin? He was a criminal with terrorist links. Mr Modi was referring to his terrorist activities. He did not support any fake encounters," claimed Mr Naidu.

He also charged that Congress has neither leadership nor issues. "Modi has been rated as the best chief minister in the country by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and the Planning Commission. Gujarat has not seen any riot or killing during the last five years," claimed Mr Naidu.